More Than Human

Chapter 65: Reunions

Price spent the night on the floor with Gaz. He was far from being able to sleep, and struggled to coax Gaz there after everything. He was glad to have Precious' help so that he didn't need to leave his side. Price sent her to fetch some of his sleepy tea blend and to lock the door to the greenhouse. If Gaz was able to sleep he didn't want the other interrupting it no matter how well-meaning they were in the morning.

The tea worked wonders honestly. He ought to patent the stuff. It soothed Gaz's crying, and by the time he made it to the end of the cup he was officially zonked out. Price didn't want to risk waking him trying to move him to his bed, so he just held him. In all honesty, holding him like this was beneficial for Price as well.

Gaz slept well past sunrise before finally beginning to stir. He was a little bleary after everything last night.

"Mornin' Sprout."

"Did you not get any sleep, Sir?" He asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Doubt I was going to." Gaz frowned at that and Price chuckled, "I'll take a nap later. How's that sound?"

Gaz gave a satisfied nod before trying to push himself up. His legs were wobbly from disuse and he nearly careened to the floor before Price caught him.

"Easy, Kyle. Take it slow."

"Right. Forgot what it was like."

Price wasn't sure if he meant changing back or walking in general, either way he sent Precious for some of his clothes so he could help him get dressed. Once he was fully clothed Price gave him a once over in better light.

"Need more water, and extra supplements. Not a fan of your color." He told him and Gaz rolled his eyes.

"You and your supplements, old man." He gave a breathy laugh and Price couldn't help but smile at the sound of it.

"The others will want to see you. Guessing you'd rather it not be all at once?"

"Don't think I could handle that right now to be honest." He agreed.

"Alright, we'll take it slow. You alright if I go fetch some stuff." He asked, getting Kyle sat on a stone bench.

Gaz nodded and Precious hopped up into his lap, demanding attention. Gaz remembered when he first emerged here, he had thought Precious was the coolest thing ever. She followed him around everywhere. He could hardly shake her if he tried.

After a few minutes Price returned and he wasn't alone. Kate hurried ahead of him on the path to get her arms around Gaz. She squeezed him tight and he held on just as much. She momentarily pulled away and moved his head around to look him over.

"Oh, Kyle. Look at you. Nice and fleshy. Just how we like." She smiled and he couldn't help but laugh before pulling her back in for another hug.

"Worried I wouldn't see you again." He said against her.

"Takes more than a terrorist to keep me at bay, Kyle." She told him earnestly. They both knew it was true, had the experiences to prove it.

Price let them get as much hug in as Gaz needed before handing him a glass of water and a handful of pills. He snorted at the sheer amount he was handed but dutifully took them anyway.

Kate rubbed his shoulder when he was done before looking up at Price, "I should give the next person their turn."

"Hm?" Gaz hummed.

"You're quite the celebrity, Kyle." She laughed, "Only reason I got in first was that I promised to be calm. MacTavish has been waiting in the hall all morning."

Gaz snorted, "Of course he has."

"He can wait longer if you aren't ready for that kind of energy." Price assured him.

Gaz shook his head, "No. I want to see him."

"Alright. I'll send him in." Kate smiled and walked back down the path, the picture of composure. She was so impressive with that. Especially to Price who knew how anxious she had been about Gaz since she arrived.

She had really set a standard that Soap did not meet in the slightest. Price and Gaz heard him and Ghost coming before they saw them on the path.

"Slow down, Johnny! He's not going anywhere!" Ghost's voice echoed through the space.

Then Soap was bursting around the curve of the path, skidding and nails scraping slightly on the stone path in his wolf form before he recovered and continued his mad dash to Gaz. To Soap's credit, he didn't jump on Gaz like he wanted to. He held himself back quite well all things considered. When he got closer to him and Price, he slowed down, hardly able to keep himself still. His tail was going a million miles an hour and he slapped at the pavement with his front paws.

Ghost eventually caught up and huffed at his partner's behavior, "Sorry about him."

"Don't be." Gaz laughed and Precious very politely stepped off of his lap so that he could pat his legs, "C'mon, Puppy."

Soap was up in an instant with permission. He stood on his hind legs so he could place his front paws on Gaz's legs. He was big enough that his snout was within perfect licking distance of Gaz's face, and by god he went for it.

"Agh! Soap! Nasty! Getting drool everywhere!" Gaz laughed anyway, not really upset.

Soap kept at it though, little whines kept slipping out of his throat. He had already lost two littermates in his past, he was so worried that he was going to lose another. Gaz kept scratching around his neck and head, hoping to soothe and calm him a touch.

Price couldn't help but grin at the sound of Gaz's laughter and the sight of Soap's massive tail moving his whole body with its force. Eventually Ghost stepped in, although he was also glad to see Soap in better spirits.

"Alright, Johnny. Ease up. You'll drown the poor tree."

Soap obediently pulled back and lowered himself back to the ground, setting his head across Gaz's lap. Gaz continued to pet him, ruffling his massive ears.

"Can't get rid of me that easy, Soap." He said it playfully, but they both knew it was a serious reassurance.

Soap closed his eyes and continued to let out little whines as he was pet.

Ghost eventually wandered over and patted Gaz on the shoulder, "Good to have you back, Garrick."

"Good to be back, Lieutenant."